City to Prepare Draft EIR for O.B. Community Plan Update

On July 26, the city gave notice that it will prepare the draft environmental impact report for the Ocean Beach Community Plan Update. O.B. denizens will have a chance to comment on the proposed draft report at scoping meeting on August 9.

The proposed community plan update would allow additional dwelling units on 99 parcels, or 121 acres, in the small coastal community. Current zoning in that area calls for 9 dwelling units per acre. The proposed changes would change that to 15 dwelling units per acre, a net increase of 126 units.

That's just in one area of Ocean Beach. In all, if the proposed zoning amendments remain, the community will see an increase of 1,399 dwelling units.

And while some residents are unsettled by the thought of bringing more density to an already densely populated area, City planners hope to move forward with the City of Villages growth strategy.

The draft environmental documents will address potential land use issues as well as impacts to quality of life, economic viability, and the preservation of historical beach cottages.

The scoping meeting will be held at the Ocean Beach Recreation Center from 7pm to 9pm on August 9.